Concept of a high-resolution miniature spectrometer using an integrated filter array

A high-resolution miniature spectrometer has been demonstrated by utilizing a 128-channel integrated filter array, fabricated by using the combinatorial deposition technique, as a dispersive component whose passbands range from 722.0 to 880.0 nm with a bandwidth (or spectral resolution) from 1.7 to 3.8 nm and an average channel interval of 1.2 nm. The miniature spectrometer is smaller than 1 cm³ without any moving parts. This kind of miniature spectrometer has the advantages of very low payload, high resolution, and high reliability simultaneously, which are especially urgently needed for space applications.